Ranked #2974

Hamtaro

Ahh, Hamtaro. Where do I begin? The epic tales of little hamsters and their trials and tribulations in a big world. This series is absolutely irresistible. I first started watching it with my little sister because of the cute hamsters but soon got pulled into the simple, childish world.

Bear in mind that this is a series primarily aimed towards children and is being rated as such. However, I found the series enjoyable on many levels, from the rivalries between the hamsters for their loves and the various friendships and relationships that invariably develop with such a large cast of characters.

The animation and music are both top notch, the Hamsters are beautifully drawn and fit nicely into a colorful suburban world. The music is fun and silly and you'll find yourself humming along. It's all very upbeat, bright and happy.

Story wise, it's a slice of life anime, concerning both the hamsters and their owners; the children of the neighborhood. It is episodic in nature but never repetitive or slow. Each episode jumps back and forth between the main character, Hamtaro, and his owner, often going through very similar situations on different scales. There are always new adventures, new problems to solve, misunderstandings to clear and new hamsters to meet. Every episode oozes charm and offers not only plenty of slapstick humor but also that of a more subtle kind. You can see how each hamster's personality reflects their owners, and get glimpses into their lives. Boss blushes furiously every time his crush looks in his direction and explodes in anger whenever anyone else gives her any attention. Another two hamsters have a permanent rivalry over their shared beloved. Their antics kept me chuckling every episode. With such a huge and varied cast of characters, someone is sure to catch your eye. Each one bursts with life and fun.

So, in summary, it's a highly enjoyable series, great for watching with a younger sibling or child as a safe introduction to the world of anime. Or even just for laughs and eye candy. It's not moralistic, but has plenty of good messages; friendship, kindness, believing in yourself. It's upbeat, fun and never petty or mean as many children's shows are these days. Highly recommended, check it out! read more

What can I say? I'm a fan boy!

But my review is honestly what I think this series deserves--it is a perfect mix of everything anime is suppose to be. There is a bit of everything from time to time: romance, action, humour, suspense, seriousness, etc.

The series is most enjoyable in the original form (Tottoko Hamutaro) as I find the voice acting much better, and the sound EXTREMELY better. It has, by far, the BEST OST soundtrack of any anime I've ever heard, surpassing the likes of One Piece by a mile.

Where it does fall short, unfortunately, is the story. At times the childishness of the series really comes through and that will ruin it for some people. As well, some things just don't make much sense.

But if you love furry little creatures, and love it even more when they're personified, then you really need to start watching Hamtaro / Tottoko Hamutaro. read more